Learn from past mistakes: Ditch the Grand Prix

City Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke was right on the mark when, in reference to the city administration's search for a new Indy Race management team, she observed, "We lost a lot of taxpayers' money (and) we need to make sure it's secure if they move forward" ("Officials mum on Grand Prix selection process," Jan. 10).

I'm one of those taxpayers; one of the Baltimoreans burdened with a usurious property tax rate double the rate in any other Maryland jurisdiction, and concerned at the opaqueness of the search now underway. The 2011 Indy race was dumped in our laps so quickly we hardly had time to blink before traffic was being rerouted and downtown streets being resurfaced in anticipation of what we were told would be a can't-lose for Baltimore, a sure draw of tourist dollars, a way to enhance the city's image as the place to be for major sporting events.

After enduring months of snarled traffic and media hype, the can't-lose turned into a can't-win with millions of dollars still owed and unlikely to be paid and not nearly the audience that had been forecast. Now, the city seems inclined to do the same thing all over again.

Yes, we're told, the administration is courting potential successors and, yes, we're moving forward. But we'd rather not talk about it. There's even an indication that one suitor is talking about running the race as a non-profit enterprise, a non-polluting Green Grand Prix. What utter nonsense. The apparent deadline to begin organizing a new race is March. I hope it passes without having been met relieving the taxpayers of another burden about which they weren't even consulted.

I guess we should be used to the ongoing incompetence and mismanagement that is Baltimore City, but it certainly is a depressing spectacle to watch our city "leaders" stumble from one screw-up to the next. I was thrilled when we finally got a first-class race event (for Americans, anyway)...

Detractors of the Baltimore Grand Prix (or most things) typically speak in broad terms using "no one liked" or "everyone was glad to see it go." These are typically false misnomers which apply only to their disgruntled clique of friends. I have friends who live in the immediate vicinity of...

In her recent commentary in The Sun, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake tries obfuscation to explain her sophomoric push for the Grand Prix, instead of admitting the truth — that it has been a financial flop, was a huge waste of taxpayer funds and tied the city in knots for a month each...

The letter from the co-founders of Viva House was spot on ("Plenty of things to regret about the Grand Prix," Sept. 19). What it failed to do was explain how the cancellation of the Baltimore Grand Prix would make things better. Outside of making them feel better.

It seems that when it comes to the doomed Baltimore Grand Prix, there is really no gray area. Baltimoreans either embraced it or abhorred it. I am in the latter category ("Grand Prix of Baltimore canceled through 2015, and likely beyond," Sept. 13).

The Grand Prix of Baltimore, the race that Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake promised would be a "game-changer" has come and gone ("Grand Prix of Baltimore canceled through 2015, and likely beyond," Sept. 13). Apparently, the game changed and we missed it

I really do not understand the workings of the city. If Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and her people were trying to promote the Baltimore Grand Prix, how did the dates get booked for a college football game on the same weekend for next year, and a convention the following year ("Grand Prix...